Home care is designed to help older adults remain independent as they age at home. Some daily tasks become more of a challenge as health issues arise and muscle strength and flexibility change. Here are five things you should know about home care for older adults.
Companionship Care Is a Popular Service
When you think of home care, you probably think of caregivers helping with housework and laundry, meals and snacks, and personal care and grooming. Did you know you can arrange to have caregivers stop by to check in and see how your mom and dad are doing?
Companionship services are very popular. Caregivers stop by for a friendly conversation, an afternoon out for lunch and shopping, or other things your parents miss doing with their friends and family.
You Control How Often Caregivers Come
When you hire professional caregivers, you choose the schedule. The home care provider can help you better understand the time it usually takes to complete the services, but decisions are up to your family. Would your parents prefer weekly visits or several per week?
If you want to stop in each Friday and help out for the day, you can simply choose not to have caregivers that day or week. If your parents need daily assistance, and you’re only free two days a week, caregivers can cover the rest. Talk it over and see how your parents feel.
Services Are Changed as Needed
What happens if you arrange caregiver services and your mom’s health changes? She only needs help with housekeeping at first, but then she falls and also needs help with meals and transportation. It’s easy to add and remove home care services with a local agency.
You can drop services as your mom heals. If she needs more caregiver visits, that’s also easy to arrange.
They Help Retain Independence
One of the biggest fears older adults have as their health and mobility change is losing their independence. Caregivers have one goal, and that’s to make their clients stay in their homes and enjoy independence for as long as possible.
With someone helping complete more challenging daily tasks, your parents can enjoy staying in their home, doing things that they love, and coming and going as they please. Caregivers help out where your parents want them to help out, and the rest is left for your parents to do.
You Can Use Them for Your Benefit, Too
Family caregivers don’t always realize that home care also helps them out. You’ve been caring for your dad after his stroke, and it’s been years since you had a vacation. You’re burned out. Use respite care services to take a much-needed break. You go on your trip and hire caregivers to help your mom while you’re away.
Your parents gain many benefits when they have home care aides helping them out. Companionship is one of the best ones, but it’s just one of the many perks. Call a home care agency and talk about the services available in your area.